LATEST NEWS FROM THE CAPTAIN'S TABLE

Ill-Starred Captain Press Release October November 2017

After a few months of health-related hiatus, legendary Folk/Punk/Roots two-piece, ill Starred Captain have re-energised, re-built and are roaring back out on the road in October and November. The band was forced to have a break from touring over the last couple of months, due to drummer Justin Francis suffering from a debilitating back injury, but after a lot of physical therapy, Justin is finally ready to leap back behind the kit, and the band has a packed schedule of gigs, festivals and creative work ahead.

The band is heading to South Australia to play a whole lot of shows in Regional areas, as well as beginning work on the first video for their upcoming album, "Get Lucid on the Transcendental", with filmmaker Jason Mildwaters. Along the way the duo (Scott Bassham guitars/singer, and Justin Francis drums) will be celebrating 17 years of recording and touring as a band.

"Ill-Starred Captain has just marked its 17th year of dogged existence!" Says Scott.

"It's amazing what we've managed to do in that time, four self-released albums, with another nearly done, thousands of gigs around Australia and overseas, all as a totally independent act. The fact we still love doing our work, live and in the studio, after all this time, is a testament to our passion for making music." The Tour kicks off at the Beer Farm in Margaret River on Saturday the 14th of October, and will incorporate original music venues, mine sites and two regional festival appearances, at Puffstock near Clare on October 21 https://www.facebook.com/events/154946431756726, and Cuppsfest, Streaky Bay on October 28 https://www.facebook.com/cuppsfest/.

The band will also play a special hometown gig at the Pier Hotel in Pt. Lincoln, to celebrate Scott's 50th birthday, on the 3rd of November, which promises to be a rambunctious night of music and boogie-ing! Details of venues and gig dates can be found on the bands website. http://www.illstarredcaptain.com/upcoming-shows.html

Ill-Starred Captain has released two albums and EP's since their debut in 2001. The band’s first EP, "Bottlegreen Sky” had been recorded in the studio only hours before the twin towers fell, they have dedicated their music to a positive and constructive vision ever since. Ill Starred believe that music is a necessary and powerful lens through which history is viewed and sometimes understood, with all of their recorded work seeking to add colour and passion to a world that grows increasingly fearful and confused.

THIS TOUR WAS CANCELLED DUE TO JUSTIN'S BACK INJURY WHERE SCOTT CONTINUED THE RUN PERFORMING SOLO.

As winter tightens its grip on the Southern parts of Australia, Folk/Punk/Surfadelic two-piece band, ill-Starred Captain, are loading up the Tour van and heading north to the magnificent Pilbara and Kimberley regions of W.A. The band, comprising of Scott Bassham (singer and guitarist) and Justin Francis (drums), are no strangers to this part of the world, and have enjoyed touring and being inspired by the Northwest for many years. "The Pilbara and the Kimberley have been a huge part of our touring adventures since we first journeyed out of our home state of South Australia 16 years ago," says Scott, "The amazing landscapes and fantastic characters we've met over the years keep us coming back every winter, the weathers great as well!"

The band is running on a high at the moment, with all tracking done for their forthcoming album, "Get Lucid on the Transcendental" having recently been completed in Adelaide’s Big Sound Studio’s. The new album has taken the band three years to record; however, the long creation period is definitely not a result of laziness. "We create our albums the old-fashioned, independent way," says Scott,” We get out on the road, and play our arses off, then hit the studio and work on the album. Then we repeat and repeat! There are no grants involved, or even crowd funding...we work incredibly hard to create our body of art, and I think you can really hear that in the playing."

Ill-Starred Captain will be playing extensively throughout the Pilbara and Kimberley over the next few months, and will be premiering songs from "Get Lucid..." along with other songs from their long creative journey. The guys are really looking forward to playing their new work live, and as anyone who has seen the band live can attest, ill-Starred Captain Shows are passionate, exciting and highly groove some events! "We can't wait to get up North and rock out, basically, to old friends and new. These are exciting times for our band, and we're going to celebrate!"

The Northern tour kicks off this weekend in Carnarvon, where the band will be playing at the Gascoyne Hotel as a goodbye for publican Marie Lancaster who has been a great supporter of the best original music in the area for many years. If you’re in the Gascoyne, Pilbara and Kimberley over the next few months, keep your eyes and ears open for this fantastic band if you're up North this winter. They're not to be missed!t.

ill Starred Captain in April 2017 and the way forward

Ill Starred Captain January 2017 news

We’ll here it is again the end of another year and one where many creative inspirational people have passed on in 2016. Their work will still inspire others to go forth and create more art as it does for ill Starred Captain who is now in their sixteenth year, hungrier than ever to get their creative work done too. In what has been a successful year since February till now, the band has consistently chugged out their live shows, all in order to keep time alive in Big Sound Studio’s for their fifth album due out this year.

A lot of time has been spent touring in the quieter two thirds of Australia and the band will be embarking on a national tour including the East Coast, being their first in five years. Five years is a long time however with family life and work commitments it meant the band had to wait patiently and record a decent product so the overall balance was right to hit the eastern seaboard & getting themselves back out overseas.

Time and culture shifts are like an ebb tide and in knowing this, Scott Bassham and Justin Francis are excited to be sharing new music, performing in new places to new faces and ears for their Folk/Punk/Surfedelic sound. Over summer you can catch ill Starred Captain performing in Western & Southern Australia where recording resumes with Dave Lokan and the shooting of various film clips that begin in February with Jason Mildwaters of JLM Studio’s. www.jlmstudiosadelaide.com/

For any independent musician there's a long challenging road in front of you and ill Starred Captain wouldn’t exchange that freedom in any way because either you’re working or you’re not. Stay tuned for more news early in the year regarding what’s next and new sounds to listen to. Thank you to everyone who was part of the 2016 journey.

Ill Starred Captain October NOvember 2016 news

Ill Starred Captain are winding up an exceptionally busy 2016, playing numerous live shows and travelling thousands of kilometres across the country. Over the sixteen years the band has existed they have proven themselves to be one of Australia's more resilient and creative acts. Comprised of singer/songwriter/guitarist Scott Bassham and drummer Justin Francis the duo kicks a brand of folk/punk/surfadelic sound that leaves crowds in awe that they are only a two-piece outfit. Ill Starred Captain have placed great value in developing their own musical and creative pathway, self-reliance and a dedicated work ethic that has allowed them to survive and prosper during dramatic changes within the music industry.

Ill Starred Captain are currently recording their fifth album with Dave Lokan at Big Sound studios in Adelaide as they have done for all titles released on their Seawitch Music Label. The band still thrives in the live environment providing an energy charged and highly memorable performance as shown with recent gigs in Melbourne, Western & South Australia and the Northern Territory. The months of October, November & December will see the band perform throughout Southern Australia, where you can head on down to your local music venue and witness a band that truly demonstrates what it means to be alive and well within the Australian recording business.

Saturday 10th The Beer Farm Metricup WA The Beer Farms first Birthday celebrations with many music acts, good times, good beer and food.

Photography by Mr. Marty McClelland and Justin Francis 2015

Welcome in 2015

DECEMBER 2014 thanks for a positive Challenging year.

Hello and Merry
Christmas to you all and we hope you know where to access your sacred place of
peace in this current world. Thank you for another supportive year in fronting
up to our live shows taking the time to say hello, accommodating us and
generally being into the idea of having a good time together in a friendly environment
for art’s sake. You and many others have provided inspiration along the way,
which is a book in itself and we are forever grateful on all counts.As we steam
to the end of what was rather a quick and challenging year, ill Starred Captain have one last show
at the Bush Shack Brewery in Yallingup, Western Australia on Sunday 28th
December at 2:00 pm.This is a great
venue out in the bush in full acoustic mode reminding me of what a possible
outing at Neil Young’s home might be like. Great scenery, timber buildings,
good people, food and of course beer with a difference accompanied by musicians
and patrons.Recent time
off with our families has been long overdue and it’s good to be around the
place enjoying each other’s company not via technology. While we are in the
wilds having fun, our families are waiting to see us in person again, so thank
you for being the most patient people on the planet.You all have hearts of gold and are some of
the stronger ones going, as for us most of the year is spent apart and we
always do our best to return home safely.Once we leave, home then become our final destination of every tour,
weaving all the towns in between on a musical thread. Last week
Scott and I reconvened from a couple of months off as we did 75 shows in the
Australian backyard.It has been quite
liberating really, given the work load associated with releasing and touring
our instrumental E.P ‘Wooden Wire’ that has now come to an end. We met many
great people on that journey with radio supporting our vehicle for the listener
to create lyrics for what the music evokes in one’s mind. We received great reviews from fans, which is
what keeps us inspired to do more recording and thank you for not being
voiceless.Scott and I
had our first shed jam in years, which keeps our playing dynamically in order, embracing
the low volume environment for a change, ‘ah Pardon I didn’t hear that’?This is taking us back to our musical roots as
it is the raw sounds and musical detail we chase while working on new
material.Yes, there is a new album on
the way and it is being recorded with Dave Lokan at Big Sound Studio’s in
Adelaide.The inception came from Cactus
Beach S.A. taking our collaborative work into a fifteen year story from South
Australia with Dave as our trusted engineer.Studio work will recommence in March where our touring kicks off for a
trip around Australia supporting another Seawitch Music release.We had a Christmas
performance at Tony Sunich’s Film studio in Fremantle, which made for good
energy among the crew attending the positive cultural evening. This performance
marks the start of our soundtrack work for the film ‘Taxi Club’ scheduled in
2015. The live playing felt honest and fresh which is great for the direction
we are heading in as a creative force, looking toward a new approach in achieving
our long term goals ahead. Sharing
live stages with special friends is something we cherish and did for 85 % of
our shows this year.This made them more
personal honoring each other and the music we make allowing ill Starred Captain
to perform a two hour show instead of doing the whole four hour beer barn spack
filler play something we all know gig.The
following people presented their own music and our gratitude goes out to
Shannon Haapenen, Lesley Jane Gentilin, Lightning Jack, Philippe Four String Phil,
Eliseo Musicucci, Mike & Kat, Katia Smith, Shane Labady, Matt Young, Chris
Matthews, Clee Tonkin, Ben Evolent, The Gemini Downs, Ivan Corney and Stu Harcourt
for their chops and confident self expression.We would also
like to thank the courageous promoters that bothered to arrange live music events
and take the financial risk on the punters and bands showing up.There are many on the way in 2015 where the
great escape from your working world hopefully gives you an uplifting
experience. All shows were successful and our gratitude goes out to Geja Van
Urk in Karratha W.A., Clee Tonkin & Josh n the Steadombe crew in Alawa N.T.
for the rocking house concerts. Also Bronte
Roarlach Craig Leslie who arranged the Kenny Lives show, Corney Music for arranging
our touring endeavors and Mr Bassham for the endless sound duties undertaken
for the kind ears out front. These underground
shows I believe are the way forward in presenting live music and all we need to
do is attend and honor the hard work presented in a six hour party.Without our
road vehicles intact we’d be at home picking fruit and a high five goes out to our
Highway Star, Mr Eddy Crabtree at Jandakot Wreckers who keeps us moving forward
in the state of deep purple. It’s a case of Eddy we need this and he replies, ‘If
you head up the back you’ll see the gold Fairlane, and it’s in there.‘Eddy how do I get the gear box out and into the
General Gee’? ‘Well put it on the hoist and do this that and that etc etc.Day ten ‘Eddy where’s the gearbox’?This is how we make it to your town because
Mr Crabtree makes sure we get going every time no matter where we land.If your car needs a part give him a buzz on
this link as I’m sure he will help you out and share a yarn or two.https://www.facebook.com/JandakotWreckersFor those
of you who live abroad we are in the process of setting up a tour to Ireland,
Germany, Scotland & England for July & August 2015. Yes we will be
visiting you for some quality time together as it’s been a long time between pints.Recently Sheena Keane from Blue Grace Music
in Ireland asked if we could set up a side show for Candian Songstress, Jenn
Grant’ & ill Starred Captain.Jenn
is touring Australia with Mamma Kin and this show will be taking place at the
Nannup Hotel on Saturday 17th January 8:00 pm as side show to her
national tour. This also installs the beginning of pedaling our music
internationally again, which is exciting when reaching new audiences and
gracing new roads.There is so
much creativity going on in this country and the world at the moment and we can’t
wait to discover what’s on offer in the New Year.Art and music links people through their life
activities and being part of this is what makes life interesting. Eventually we
all stop in our tracks and that’s the end of the story with a life behind us to
share for our future generations. In memory of our fallen friends and family
members we pass on much respect, as we continue our freedom as positive people
on the planet.Keep on rockin in the free
world and safe travels.

NOVEMBER 2014 PRESS RELEASE

There is great news for music fans this month, as Folk/punk Surfadelic two-piece ill-Starred Captain continue their intensive national touring schedule with a tour of regional Victoria in November. The band has spent this year playing live across the country in support of their instrumental "Wooden Wire" E.P., which has been gathering great radio support from Australia's vast community radio networks, as well as being played on Triple-J's influential 'Roots and All' program. The E.P. was also voted album of the week recently on the Top End's Gove F.M., which helped the band gain great exposure for their recent tour of the Northern Territory. ill-Starred Captain's music has also been moving in new, cinematic directions, with a recent live performance at the widely acclaimed Darwin International Film Festival, where the band played at the premiere of Kasimir Burgess's fantastic new film, "Fell". The band has also had their music added to an international tourism campaign, with their song "Four Feet Away" (from 2010 album "Black Swan Eye"), as the soundtrack to a short film being used by the South Australian Tourism Commission, promoting adventure tourism in their native South Australia. With another soundtrackin the wings for the band, they are soon to begin recording music for an upcoming feature film, 'Taxi Crimes', currently being filmed in Perth and a whole new audience is set to experience the power and creative passion that ill-Starred Captain have become renowned for. All of this on-the-road activity is balanced by the ongoing recording of ill-Starred Captains first full-length album since 2010, tentatively titled "Get Lucid on the Transcendental", which promises to be the bands best work to date.Live gigging, however, remains the great love of guitarist/singer/songwriter Scott Bassham and drummer extraordinaire, Justin Francis, and the band is looking forward to touring the Eastern states in 2015, re-introducing audiences to their wild-hearted, passionate sounds, and thumping, dance-inducing grooves. With a sound that encompasses so many different influences and textures, ill-Starred Captain remain one of Australia's hardest working, and most exciting live acts, so don't miss an opportunity to see this band live, as they leave the desert country, and roll on into the East!

All shows are proudly presented by Corney Music and Seawitch Music. For more information on venues and dates, as well as music and general info, check out www.illstarredcaptain.com or www.corneymusic.com Get ready to chase the winter away with some red-hot sounds from ill-Starred Captain, promising to be the perfect blend for a rockin' spring night.

South Australian Tourism Commission includes 'Four Feet Away' onto Thrill Seeking in South Australia promotional campaign.

We are really proud to announce that one of our songs,"Four Feet Away", has been chosen as the soundtrack for an awesome promotional film made for the South Australian Tourism Commission. The short promo film focuses on the exciting activities available for adventurous visitors to SA, including shark diving, surfing, parachuting and other great "extreme" pursuits. Featuring the fantastic film work of young Canadian film-maker, Greg Snell, we are absolutely stoked at the finished product. Growing up in the wilds of South Australia, it feels really fitting that our music is attached to this international tourism campaign, and we hope you enjoy watching this great short film. Spread the word, SA - Heaps Good!

Skin Too Few - live in Coffin Bay S.A.

A shift towards the Eastern seaboard of Australia with a solid tail wind and storm accompanying us to the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia.14th July on the longest straight road in the world 40 km East of Balladonia Western Australia.

ill-Starred Captain - "Wooden Wire" Australian Radio release February 2014.

"Wooden Wire-Voiceless Songs" is the fourth release from Australian band ill-Starred Captain, and marks a real departure for the wild hearted two-piece. Comprised completely of instrumental music, "Wooden Wire" is the result of ill-Starred Captain's thirteen year long journey as a hard-touring and creatively vibrant musical act, busy charting their own individual and independent course through today's labyrinthine music industry. Drawing inspiration from the long desert highways and empty coastlines of their native land, as well as the Urban underbelly, "Wooden Wire" covers a whole array of sounds, styles and textures, all seeking to convey the spirit of the band's journey to date. Combining the mercurial and dynamic musicianship of Scott Bassham, on guitars and piano, with the powerfully expressive drum work of Justin Francis, "Wooden Wire" represents a turning point of sorts, for the band. "We were particularly wanting to catch the timelessness and flow of our journeys across Australia in the last few years," says Scott. "We've always loved writing songs, and creating word images, but when you are actually out in those places, away from people, out beyond the radio transmission range, the landscape becomes something beyond the human voice. We wanted to capture the wind, the sounds of waves crashing, the grind of city traffic, the big sky, all that stuff appears more clearly sometimes without lyrics." "Wooden Wire" contains truckin' songs, psychedelic surf music, cosmic piano work and lively funk across it's seven songs and twenty-two minutes, and is made for driving across vast vistas of the imagination, or simply down to the shops. Is the band worried that the album will be seen as some kind of new direction? Is it indeed a new direction? No, says Scott, "We are already in the process of writing and recording our next, very much lyrics-based album, but this gets some music out of our system and into the world. We are a totally independent concern, and we do everything ourselves, so we don't have to follow the traditional path of a recording career. We work incredibly hard for our creative freedom, purely because it means we can go down paths like this, recording onto analogue tape, in a studio we love, making exactly the music we want to make." So, who is the audience that ill-Starred Captain are targeting with this album? "I suppose that we hope to bring something of our own journey into the culture," says Scott, "We are still in love with the Australian landscape, as diverse as it is, and I guess we are sending this out to our fellow travellers, whether they are housebound or out on those roads. We wanted to evoke and be something of a soundtrack to that journey. That's pretty much all we were trying to do..."

"Wooden Wire" joins the already well loved catalogue of recorded work by ill-Starred Captain, but as drummer Justin Francis explains, this recording will always have a special and unique place within the band's hearts, as it’s here, we as a band can play the music totally in the moment, introducing our mystery bass player who’s been touring and jamming with us and the lyrics for years. They're an honest mate and when you realise they are there you get trust is in the sound.

The last few years of intensive touring through some of Australia's most isolated and diverse regions have finally borne fruit for intrepid musicians ill Starred Captain. The two piece band, comprising of Scott Bassham on vocals - guitar and Justin Francis on drums, are proud to announce the release of their first new collection of recorded work since their last album, “Black Swan Eye" in 2010, and it's a collection with a difference!

"Wooden Wire-Voiceless songs by ill-Starred Captain" marks a big departure from their trademark "Folk/Punk/Surfadelic" sounds. The EP is the bands first fully instrumental release and represents a new openness and diversity in their music. Recorded on classic analogue gear, straight to tape at Bigsound Studio in Adelaide amidst shows at the Festival Fringe, the band wanted to capture, in music, something of the spirit of their constant touring through the wilds of Australia, out on the fringes of the Australian music industry.

Says the bands songwriter/guitarist, Scott, “We've always loved writing and playing instrumental music, and we found that we had enough material, created over the last couple of years, to release a record. We call them 'voiceless songs' because that's very much what they are. They don't meander around one riff, they actually are structured as songs, with middle-eights and choruses...we just took away the lyrics, so that the tunes can speak for themselves."

Inspired by long nights driving through the desert, as well as lost friends, mad truckies and city cab drivers, "Wooden Wire" captures many different worlds in its brief twenty two minutes. ”We wanted to really bring our instruments to the fore on this record," says Scott,” it's great to paint a picture with lyrics, but sometimes it's good to let the mind wander more freely. It was a great experience communicating this way musically, and something we will definitely develop in the future."

If you're wondering though, if this is the bands "new direction", it isn't! Ill-starred Captain are already working up a new albums worth of songs, lyrics and all, which they will start recording early in 2014. In the meantime, this hard touring two-piece is back out on the road around Australia, taking their diverse and wild-hearted music to music fans across the land.

Having launched Wooden Wire in the bands hometown of Port Lincoln South Australia, which is where they started out on this long, strange voyage, the band are celebrating thirteen years of recorded music on their Seawitch Music label, 'the mother ship of survival'. !" Says Scott ‘There’s already been some great interest shown from radio, being featured on ABC Radio's OZ music spotlight in Darwin and positive feedback from music fans who recently got their hands on a copy of the release.

The last word on the album should come from Justin Francis supplying the musical heartbeat, on drums, “With a new album bringing our studio work up to date, it feels right to be going on the road, performing new tracks to audiences who are listening to instrumental music. It leaves room for the listener to make up lyrics from their own mind, inspired from whatever they may be thinking about or looking at”.

The band will tour Western Australia in December for the official release of Wooden Wire at the Settlers Tavern, Margaret River on Saturday 7th, The Pier Hotel Esperance Friday 15th & Taylors Beach Bar & Cafe Sunday 15th Esperance, The Railway Hotel, North Fremantle Sunday 22nd with special guests Jean Proude, Chris Matthews & Shannon Haapenen. To farewell 2013 one show to celebrate woll be the Port Hotel, Hopetoun on Saturday 28th for their Annual Beach party event with special guest Lightning Jack.

OCTOBER NOVEMBER PRESS RELEASE

The last few years of intensive touring through some of Australia's most isolated and diverse regions have finally borne fruit for intrepid musicians ill Starred Captain. The two piece band, comprising of Scott Bassham on vocals and guitar and Justin Francis on drums, are proud to announce the release of their first new collection of recorded work since their last album, “Black Swan Eye" in 2010, and it's a collection with a difference!

"Wooden Wire-Voiceless songs by ill-Starred Captain" marks a big departure from their trademark "Folk/Punk/Surfadelic" sounds. The EP is the bands first fully instrumental release and represents a new openness and diversity in their music. Recorded on classic analogue gear, straight to tape at Bigsound Studio in Adelaide amidst shows at the Festival Fringe, the band wanted to capture, in music, something of the spirit of their constant touring through the wilds of Australia, out on the fringes of the Australian music industry.

Says the bands songwriter/guitarist, Scott, speaking from Broome where the band is currently gigging their way across the top end, “We’ve always loved writing and playing instrumental music, and we found that we had enough material, created over the last couple of years, to release a record. We call them 'voiceless songs' because that's very much what they are. They don't meander around one riff, they actually are structured as songs, with middle-eights and choruses...we just took away the lyrics, so that the tunes can speak for themselves."

Inspired by long nights driving through the desert, as well as lost friends, mad truckies and city cab drivers, "Wooden Wire" captures many different worlds in its brief 22 minutes. ”We wanted to really bring our instruments to the fore on this record," says Scott,” it's great to paint a picture with lyrics, but sometimes it's good to let the mind wander more freely. It was a great experience communicating this way musically, and something we will definitely develop in the future."

If you're wondering though, if this is the bands "new direction", it isn't! Ill-starred Captain are already working up a new albums worth of songs, lyrics and all, which they will start recording early in 2014. In the meantime, this hard touring two-piece is back out on the road around Australia, taking their diverse and wild-hearted music to music fans across the land.

“We’re really excited to be launching the Wooden Wire tour in South Australia, which is where we started out on this long, strange voyage, and we can't wait to get this music out there!" Says Scott. “There’s already been some great interest shown from radio, we are being featured on ABC Radio's OZ music Spotlight this week, and the words spreading even before the release, which is certainly new for us!"

The last word on the album should come from the dude supplying the musical heartbeat, Justin Francis on drums, “With a new album bringing our studio work up to date, it feels right to be going on the road, performing new tracks to audiences who are listening to instrumental music. It leaves room for the listener to make up lyrics from their own mind, inspired from whatever they may be thinking about or looking at”.

The band will be visiting South Australia for the official release of Wooden Wire at the Grace Emily Hotel, Adelaide on Thursday 10th with the Francis Thorsen Orchestra, The Pier Hotel, Port Lincoln on Friday 11th October for ill Starred Captain's thirteenth birthday bash with special guests 'The Barcode Babies'. Other shows include the EPIC concert at Port Lincoln's, Centenary Oval for the community house fundraiser and Cummins Hotel on Saturday 12th October. The Arno Bay Hotel is hosting October Fest, with handles of beer, German dress and music in the bay on Sunday 13th October, bringing back the Sunday sesh. For more information visit www.illstarredcaptain.com for tour dates, recorded music and film clips.

Well,here we go! Off again for our last trip to the far North for 2013, really looking forward to playing some wild-hearted gigs in the desert and the tropics, including the 120th birthday of our beloved Ironclad Hotel in Marble Bar,where we're on a great bill with Chris Matthews,Four string Phil, the Seaside Drifters, the Wolfe Brothers and Aussie country legend Lee Kernagan. We're also hitting the Pilbara, Broome and Darwin for some seriously exciting shows, you can check all the tour dates at illstarredcaptain.com. We've also finished the production of our new mini-album "Wooden Wire", a collection of "voiceless songs" that we recorded (on glorious analogue tape) earlier this year,with Dave Lokan, which will be available at gigs and on iTunes very soon. This is an exciting time for us,we're feeling rejuvenated and more passionate than ever about the music we're making,and we hope to catch up with a lot of our "road family" out there! Keep your eyes out for us! Umgawa!

A week of Dust and golden sun in the Kimberley region of Western Australia August 2013

It's Sunday night alright alright and the last week has been a load of fun catching up with the local crew in Broome, Halls Creek, Kununurra and El Questro / Home Valley Stations in the Kimberley. Some great gigs were had from the subtle acoustic to the raucous Friday night at Kununurra's, Gullivers Tavern with funky dancing taking place on the dance floor. Bring a Rodeo to town and the ringers get dusty and smashed and party like there's no tommorrow and this always makes for a loud rock n roll show.

With a night off and a 2400 km drive to Exmouth for Wednesday nights show at Whalers Restaurant, we are ready to hit the road and design the cover for our instrumental E.P., "Wood n Wire", voiceless songs by ill Starred Captain. I am sure there will be plenty of inspiration throughout this trip especially after receiving airplay tonight on Perth's 96 Fm and the Almost Famous show on Melbourne's PVFM, so thank you to both stations for spinning some tunes.

We have also been receiving screenings of the "Black Swan Eye" video clip on Goolari T.V. in Broome and will be spending time later in the year there to film a video clip for our track "Sandfire Lights" with Mervin Mulardy from the Seaside Drifters. Video's are a laugh to make and it's a chance for us to get creative visually so expect some odd ball ideas as we fly the freak flag high in the sky.

Recently we were given the green light to do the soundtrack for an independent film titled "Taxi Secrets" that will be filmed in Perth over the comming months. Directed by Toni Sunich, the film is about the life of a taxi driver and the hours he keeps with an insight into how it was in the 80's watching the Perth underbelly in action. Keep an eye out in the indy film festivals throughout 2014.

We are still in the process of mixing "Wood n Wire" in Adelaide and real soon we will all get to listen to it ourselves, so until then there is plenty of live work ahead of us which will pave the way for another album recording over the summer months. We look forward to seeing you soon and our full touring list with special guests is now at www.illstarredcaptain.com . In 2014 we will perform an Australian tour including Tasmania and the East Coast, which will be a hoot blasting up the Hume and Pacific Highways once again.

A final Thank you to Jarrod Minnecon at Waringarri radio, Dave Mann, Chris Matthews, Wil Thomas and Stuie Harcourt for holding true in life as musicians, have a rocking week and cheers to your local music venues for presenting live music.

Press release: Ill-Starred Captain & Four String Phil - Pilbara Tour July 2013 and beyond. Music fans in the Northwest of W.A. are in for a treat as two outstanding musical acts join up for a tour of the Pilbara region in July. The stripped-back melodic power and energy of Ill-Starred Captain and the powerhouse roots and rockin' slide work of Tasmanian blues legend Four-String Phil are set to create one of the vibiest double bills seen in the Pilbara since...well...ever! The tour, starting at the Fremantle Music Centre on June 27th, takes in Exmouth, Karratha, Pt. Hedland, Marble Bar, Coral Bay and Carnarvon in the first two weeks of July, and audiences can look forward to some serious grooving and great sounds. Four String Phil and Ill-Starred Captain first met a couple of years ago in Tasmania, and shared a stage in Hobartwhen Ill-Starred Captain was on their Black Swan Eye tour around Australia. "As soon as I heard Phil start up on his crazy homemade cigar-box, four string guitar I was hooked," guitarist/singer Scott Bassham, “His music is incredibly lively and such rockin good fun to hear, he really knows how to get the crowd jumping!" Four String Phil is already a total legend in his home state of Tasmania, and this, his first tour on the mainland, is set to put him on the national blues/roots map”.Folk/Punk/Surfedelic two piece Ill-Starred Captain are certainly no strangers to the Pilbara, having rocked out all over W.A. since relocating from the wilds of coastal South Australia five years ago. This band's journey has seen them gathering a growing and very passionate fan base across Australia and overseas through over a decade of constant touring and recording. It's been a very exciting and busy time for Ill-Starred Captain in recent months, performing and travelling as part of the Five Rivers Medicine Shows including performances at both the Adelaide and Perth Fringe Festival. Summer had the band touring comprehensively on their own, as well as finding time to record a mini-LP and put together a DVD for fans, combining all the bands film clips with rare footage of their quite incredible history. "We are really looking forward to playing to the people of the Pilbara again," says Scott, “throughout this bands existence, the people and the landscape of this region have been really inspiring to us as musicians, and we can't wait to do these shows with Phil, and get these venues cranking with great music!" “Wooden Wire”, voiceless songs by ill Starred Captain, is an instrumental album that was recorded live at Big Sound Studio in Adelaide, South Australia with old studio pal, Dave Lokan in January this year. The release date is the 1st September and will be out on the bands own Seawitch Music label. Says Ill-Starred Captain Drummer, Justin Francis, ‘With a new album that brings our studio work up to date, it feels good to be going out on the road to performing new tracks to audiences who are listening to instrumental music. It leaves room for the listener to make up lyrics from their own mind, inspired from whatever they may be thinking about”.

Here's a bit of Pee Wah from ill Starred Captain's recent happenings. Published 1st March 2013.

Well it’s been a few roads and sleep since the 21st January and I do recall leaving Western Australia for an evening drive across the Nullabor to South Oz, where suddenly it was hello to Arno Bay. It was great to catch the Eyre Peninsula crew who arrived for some Wednesday night tunes on the front veranda on a warm summer’s night. The next morning we headed for Quorn courtesy of a full strength Farmers Union iced coffee to perform a show to a small but pert crowd. “Hey why not as it’s Thursday night alright alright”. With many other regional shows taking place it seems that live music is quite healthy in South Australia with quality tunes and people showing up in the one place as we found out in the state of “Heaps Good”. As we descended into our old stomping ground of Adelaide, the realization of heading into the studio to begin recording the new album became a reality. “Yes that is right finally a chance to get in there and nail an instrumental album completely live, on analogue tape with your trusted studio pals, Scott Bassham and Dave Lokan of Big Sound Studio’s”. “Yeah that makes sense and we can achieve that we said”. Hang on we have been asked by Dave to hijack the family kitchen in the Lokan house hold over four days and we get to knock off at half three before the kids arrive home from school"? "Sounds like a plan Stan", let’s do it and after never getting in the way of their family flow we finished up with a twenty minute instrumental album titled, “Wooden Wire”, voiceless songs by ill Starred Captain. This release allows the listener to make up their own lyrics from thoughts inspired by the music that came from doing the very same thing while we gazed at the passing scenery on our travels between home and shows. There is no release date yet, but it may coincide with the Five Rivers Medicine shows in the South West of W.A., Kununurra and Darwin in May. The recording process was liberating in the fact we only used a computer once to burn a cd of the first mix and that seems evident with the musical head-space we captured. Our daily lives are spent looking into screens and it’s great to experiment with the old tried and trusted ways of analogue tape. “Who’s feeling the air, move in music these days”? “Wooden Wire” bridges our first three releases to the next full length album that will be recorded in Western Australia later this year. Recently we were approached by film maker Tony Sunich who invited us to score music for a film he is directing in Winter this year. The story follows a taxi driver who works through the night, getting a glimpse into the Perth Underworld and spontaneous scenarios that take you into the dark hours of morning. Tony is an independent author and film maker from Croatia and Fremantle who drove taxi’s for a living and will share his experiences on film; however this movie is not based on him. We look forward to the challenge of creating music on the spot in order to accompany the right moods for various moments throughout the film. With recent performances at the South West Beer Festival near Margaret River and the Perth Fringe Festival with Dave Mann, Simon Phillips, Chris Matthews & Jay Grafton we are enjoying performing new tunes and old as the music feels good with enthusiastic audiences getting into the feel all over. Last week was a quick run to Carnarvon, Kalbarri & Geraldton with a dusty glimpse of Cyclone Rusty from Exmouth and this week we fly to Adelaide for the Five Rivers Medicine show and finish the final mixing for “Wooden Wire”.

The Medicine shows are part of The Adelaide Fringe festival featuring Chris Matthews, Dave Mann, Simon Phillips, Jean Proude & Rafa Godoy. There is also a side show at the Willunga Hotel on Friday 8th March which is a great place for an acoustic gig and to hang with the alternative gardeners of the Fleurieu Peninsula who keep an eye out in the sky. For those Nor Westers look out as we are flying your way in March for shows in Exmouth at The Gamex Fishing comp on the 12th, Whalers restaurant for the 13th and followed by a show at the Ningaloo Reef resort in Coral Bay on the 14th. Check out the gig guide and see you there. Our special guest for these shows will be by Jay Grafton from Perth and check her music here at www.triplejunearthed.com/Artists/View.aspx?artistid=43073 it’s worth a listen.Among all this gallivanting for depth and quality there is time aside with our families as it’s an important part to our lives as they wait and wait for us to get back home in one piece. Time spent with family allows you to encourage and support one another in order to follow that vision, which one day will become a reality because life is not for the faint hearted. Many sacrifices and hazardous situations take place in life for all of us to achieve individual pursuits and the importance is to achieve them with support and respect. A fair effort should always be acknowledged for the right reasons and not as a piece of consumed litter if it’s not deemed successful. “Life be in it today, hey Norm”?Australian music is being supported throughout our culture in many positive ways and we would like to thank the various media outlets for taking the time to present our music and speak with us about what we do and why as it gets the music out into people’s ears. Currently community radio is under threat from the big bully Mr digital online streaming so if you have a station in your region become a supporter and get involved with what is happening locally and keep it real as they play great tunes and survival comes from the people. Australia is also under threat from having live music venues shut down due to licensing issues and noise complaints so in order to keep this as a tradition and an outlet from the working week don’t forget about the beauty of creating an alternative venue to host the music you want to hear. It’s the people who have the power at the end of the day. For new music keep your eyes out for albums in 2013 from the various acts who are appearing on the Five Rivers Medicine Shows throughout Australia and we hope to see you at a show soon.

In the meantime it's off to see Neil Young and the Crazy Horse along with the Sound Wave festival for some Anthrax, Metallica & Slayer for inspiration and an outlet to go fuck yeah lets get into it. Welcome to the online home for ill Starred Captain.

South & Western Australian tour Jan/Feb/March 2013. Published 14th January 2013

It's been quite a while between bottles of rum, but Ill-Starred Captain, Port Lincoln's own Folk/Punk/Surfadelic musical export, has hoisted sail from the West, and is once more bound for South Australia! (Alright, enough of the Salty analogies!) The two-piece band, comprising of Scott Bassham (vocals/guitar), and Justin Francis (drums), have been burning up the road miles of late, all over the country, in support of their latest album, “Black Swan Eye". They are now set to return to their home state to present a load of fantastic live shows, and begin work on new recordings for 2013.

The band has been incredibly busy in the two years since they last undertook a regional tour of S.A, strengthening their live shows and building an enthusiastic audience with constant touring. They have also found time to produce four music videos for "Black Swan Eye" and even helped create a travelling music event, named, “The Five Rivers Medicine Show”. "We're hugely excited to be coming to our home state again," says Scott Bassham, "Especially to be performing at the Adelaide & Perth Fringe Festivals as part of the "Five Rivers" shows!”

Ill Starred Captain, who began their massive musical journey in Port Lincoln in 2001, have spent many years building their dynamic sound, and fan base, through hard touring and the creation of three highly respected , and much loved albums. The band has survived as an independent act, since 2000 and their journey has taken them everywhere from the red dust of the Kimberley, to the Scottish Highlands, playing a pure form of stripped down music that has been described as "ill Starred Captain is what happens when the White Stripes meet White-Album era Beatles”. (UK online magazine God is in the T.V.)

The band's belief in the importance of a thriving, national live music scene has recently been put into practice through their involvement with the "Five Rivers Medicine Show". This was created by the band, along with like minded musician, Chris Matthews, to take great music to the cities and regional areas of Australia.

Say’s Justin Francis “In Australia we have a front bar culture where musicians can forge their songs in front of an audience who isn't caught up in the scenes which exist in the cultural melting pot. “The Five Rivers Medicine show gives the artists and music fans an opportunity to see their favorite acts on a mini festival bill that sits between a major festival and a front bar gig”.

2013 is shaping up as the most exciting yet for Ill-Starred Captain, who are set to record not one, but two new albums this year along with a film soundtrack for an independent film in Fremantle, Western Australia. “We are going into the studio with our long-time collaborator, Dave Lokan, to record a load of instrumental music while we are over for the Fringe, as well as a batch of songs, working with some great SA musicians, such as Kristen Lawler." Says Scott. "Right now, it makes sense to us, to go back to the source of our music in order to capture new sounds”.

The last album was all lonely desert roads and craggy mountains, and we feel like we want to somehow revisit the Southern Ocean again!" Whether you are already acquainted with the folk/punk/surfedelic Ill-Starred Captain sound, or are completely new to the band, you should not miss these shows, and, with many dates across regional SA and their "Five Rivers Medicine Show" Fringe performances, there's really no excuse! Don't miss this excellent opportunity to see one of Australia's most exciting bands, live on their home turf.